GAPNA Excellence Awards, Foundation Grants and Scholarships
Winners for the GAPNA Excellence Awards, Foundation Grants and Poster and Podium Presentations are announced annually at the Membership Meeting & Awards Ceremony during the Annual Conference.
Find out more about the awards and scholarships
Congratulations to the 2024 GAPNA Excellence, GAPNA Foundation, and Podium and Poster Awards Recipients. Recipients were announced at the 2024 GAPNA Membership Meeting & Awards Ceremony at the 2024 Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX.
GAPNA Excellence Awards
Chapter Excellence Award
Great Lakes Chapter
Excellence Award in Community Service
Kathryn Service, MS, RN, FNP-MC, CDDN
Excellence Award in Clinical Practice
Karen Tepper, DNP, ANP-BC, HHCNS-BC, LNHA
Excellence Award in Education
George Peraza-Smith, DNP, GNP-BC, AGNP-C, GS-C, CNE, FAANP
Angela Scardina, DNP, RN, APRN-BC
Excellence Award in Leadership
Deborah Wolff-Baker, MSN, ACHPN, FNP-BC, GS-C
Excellence Award in Research
Joan Carpenter, PhD, CRNP, ACHPN, FPCN
GAPNA Foundation Grants
GAPNA Foundation Grant
Krystina Mathelier, PhD student, MS, RN, ANP-BC
"Smart Speakers among Hypertensive Black Older Adults to Assist with Medication Adherence: A Feasibility Study"
GAPNA Foundation Research Grant
Tamatha Arms, PhD, DNP, AGPCNP
"Fall Prevention Clinic for Older Adults in the Lower Cape Fear Region"
Barbara Resnick Health Promotion Grant
Heather M. Robalino, PhD student, AGACNP, FNP
"The Impact of Cardiac Rehabilitation on Heart Failure Self-Care Maintenance"
GAPNA Foundation Virginia Lee Cora Research Grant
Connie S. Cole, PhD, DNP, RN-BC, NP-C, ACHPN
"Identifying Palliative Care Needs Among Nursing Home Residents with and without Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias"
David Butler Spirit of GAPNA Award
Valisa Saunders, MN, APRN, GNP-BC
AMDA Foundation Futures Educational Grant
Monica Johnson, AGNP-C
Congratulations to the 2023 GAPNA Excellence, GAPNA Foundation, and Podium and Poster Awards Recipients. Recipients were announced at the 2023 GAPNA Membership Meeting & Awards Ceremony at the 2023 Annual Conference in New Orleans. The free On-Demand recording of the 2023 Annual Membership Meeting & Awards Luncheon is available in the GAPNA Online Library.
GAPNA Excellence Awards
GAPNA Innovative Project Award
GAPNA Education Committee
Chapter Excellence Award
Great Lakes Chapter
Excellence Award in Community Service
Jennifer Young, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-C
Excellence Award in Clinical Practice
Amanda Federovich-Hogan, DNP, RN, NP-C, MBA, CNRN, ACHPN, GS-C
Excellence Award in Education
Sharon Stahl Wexler, PhD, RN, GCNS-BC, FNGNA
Excellence Award in Leadership
Evelyn Duffy, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, FAANP
Excellence Award in Research
Candace C. Harrington, PhD, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, CNE, FAAN
GAPNA Foundation Grants
GAPNA Foundation Grant
Dr. Lynn Roser, PhD, CNS, CIS, FAPIC
"Trajectories of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults with Long COVID-19/Post COVID-19 Infection"
Dr. Tracy Chan, PhD, ANP-BC
“Intra-professional Dementia Care Simulation"
GAPNA Foundation Clinical Project Grant Award
Ms. Annie Li Wong, MS, APRN, GNP
“Feasibility of Project Nurse Lead Social Prescription Program to Decrease Loneliness and Social Isolation in People with Parkinson's Disease”
Barbara Resnick Health Promotion Grant
Dr. Anna Forster, PhD, RN
"Validity and Feasibility of Affect Measures and Accelerometer Use in Older Adult Farmers to Improve Physical Activity”
GAPNA Foundation Virginia Lee Cora Research Grant
Dr. Candace C. Harrington, PhD, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, CNE, FAAN
“Improving Transitions in Care from Long-Term Care to Home”
David Butler Spirit of GAPNA Award
Dr. Marianne Shaughnessy, PhD, AGPCNP-BC, GS-C, FAAN
AMDA Foundation Futures Educational Grant
Ms. Marci Beard, NP
Poster Awards
Funded by the GAPNA Foundation
1st Place - ADVANCED-Comfort: A Novel Model of Care to Promote Comfort and Quality of LifeRuth Lopez, PhD, FAAN
2nd Place - A Frailty Care Model to Inform Care of the Older Adult
Lee Anne Siegmund, PhD, RN, ACSM-CEP; Lorraine Novosel, PhD, RN, APRN-CNP, AGPCNP-BC
3rd Place - Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in the Older Adult: Don’t Call Cardiac Clearance!
Cassandra Vonnes, DNP, GNP-BC, APRN, AOCNP, CPHQ, FAHA, NICHE
DNP/PHD Student Poster - Implementation of a Patient-Centered Care Tool on an Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) Unit
Anna Caldwell, DNP, AGPCNP-C, GS-C
Podium Awards
1st Place - Perceived Effectiveness of Nursing Faculty of Clinical Video Simulation for Use in Nurse Practitioner Education
Laurie Kennedy-Malone, PhD, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA
2nd Place - Thinking Outside the Classroom: Development of an Interactive Pressure Injury Prevention Fair Notably of Older Adults Risk for Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing Students
Autumn Henson, DNP, GNP-BC, APRN, WCC
3rd Place - Academic Needs Assessment: Examining Post-Licensure Nursing Students Perceived Assessment and Reporting Elder Abuse Knowledge
Sally Mahmoud, DNP, MSN/MPH, RN, CNE
Congratulations to the 2022 GAPNA Excellence, GAPNA Foundation, and Podium and Poster Awards Recipients. Recipients were announced at the 2022 GAPNA Membership Meeting & Awards Ceremony at the 2022 Annual Conference in Orlando, FL. The On-Demand recording of the 2022 Annual Membership Meeting & Awards Luncheon is available in the GAPNA Online Library.
GAPNA Excellence Awards
GAPNA Innovative Project Award
GAPNA Historical Committee
Special Interest Group (SIG) Excellence Award
Post-Acute Care /Long-Term Care SIG
Chapter Excellence Award
Liberty Chapter
Excellence Award in Community Service
Jade Vergara, AGPCNP-C, NP
Excellence Award in Clinical Practice
Margaret Huryk, APN, DNP, AGPCNP-BC
Excellence Award in Education
Sara McCumber, DNP, RN, CNP, CNS
Excellence Award in Leadership
Cassandra Vonnes, DNP, GNP-BC, APRN, AOCNP, CPHQ, FAHA, NICHE
Excellence Award in Research
Sabrina Pickens, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, GNP-BC
GAPNA Foundation Grants
GAPNA Foundation Grant
Dr. Cassandra Vonnes, DNP, GNP-BC, APRN, AOCNP, CPHQ, FAHA
“Factors Associated with Unplanned 30-day Readmissions in the Older Adult with Cancer: A Comprehensive Cancer Center Exploratory Improvement Project”
Dr. Connie S. Cole, DNP, PhD, RN-BC, NP-C
“Understanding Provider Perspectives about the Use of Palliative Care Referral Criteria or Tools with Nursing Facility Residents”
GAPNA Foundation Research Project Grant Award
Ms. Katherine Ladetto, MSN, ANP/GNP
“Long-term Care Nurses' Intent to Stay: A Qualitative Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study”
Barbara Resnick Health Promotion Grant
Dr. Katelyn E. Webster, PhD, RN
Factors Influencing Changes in Disability Outcomes and Transfers to Nursing Home Among Assisted Living Residents with Diabetes”
GAPNA Foundation Virginia Lee Cora Research/Project Grant
Dr. Mariya Kovaleva, RN, PhD, AGPCNP-BC
“Telehealth Transitional Care for Persons Living with Dementia: A Feasibility Study”
Barbara Resnick Health Promotion Grant
Dr. Katelyn E. Webster, PhD, RN
Factors Influencing Changes in Disability Outcomes and Transfers to Nursing Home Among Assisted Living Residents with Diabetes”
UnitedHealth Grant
Dr. Laurie Kennedy-Malone, PhD GNP-BC FAANP, FSA
“Perceived Effectiveness of Nursing Faculty of Clinical Video Simulation for Use in Nurse Practitioner Education”
David Butler Spirit of GAPNA Award
Dr. Laurie Kennedy-Malone, PhD, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA, FAGHE
Virginia Lee Cora Research Grant
Dr. Mariya Kovaleva, RN, PhD, AGPCNP-BC
“Telehealth Transitional Care for Persons Living with Dementia: A Feasibility Study”
AMDA Foundation Futures Educational Grant
Dr. Rebecca Waksmunski, DNP, AGNP-C
Poster Awards
Funded by the GAPNA Foundation
1st Place - The Effect of COIVD-19 Quarantine on Body Weight in Residents of Assisted-Living Facilities
Maureen Beck, DNP, APRN, GNP-BC; Shuyan Bi, AANP
2nd Place - Pharmacological Data: A Useful Tool in Geriatric Medication Safety
Angela Scardina, DNP, RN, APRN; Kelly Magrum, MSN, RN, FNP-C
3rd Place - Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in the Older Adult: Don’t Call Cardiac Clearance!
Cassandra Vonnes, DNP, GNP-BC, APRN, AOCNP, CPHQ, FAHA, NICHE
Podium Awards
1st Place - Perceived Effectiveness of Nursing Faculty of Clinical Video Simulation for Use in Nurse Practitioner Education
Laurie Kennedy-Malone, PhD, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA
2nd Place - Thinking Outside the Classroom: Development of an Interactive Pressure Injury Prevention Fair Notably of Older Adults Risk for Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing Students
Autumn Henson, DNP, GNP-BC, APRN, WCC
3rd Place - Academic Needs Assessment: Examining Post-Licensure Nursing Students Perceived Assessment and Reporting Elder Abuse Knowledge
Sally Mahmoud, DNP, MSN/MPH, RN, CNE
Congratulations to the 2021 GAPNA Excellence, GAPNA Foundation, and Podium and Poster Awards Recipients. Recipients were announced at the 2021 GAPNA Membership Meeting & Awards Ceremony at the 2021 Annual Conference in San Diego. The On-Demand recording of the 2021 Annual Membership Meeting & Awards Luncheon is available in the GAPNA Online Library.
GAPNA Excellence Awards
Special Interest Group (SIG) Excellence Award
Post-Acute Care /Long-Term Care SIG
Chapter Excellence Award
Triad Chapter
Excellence Award in Community Service
Katherine A. Evans, DNP, FNP-C, GNP-BC, ACHPN, FAANP
Excellence Award in Clinical Practice
Ron Billano Ordona, DNP, FNP-BC, GS-C
Excellence Award in Education
Kala K. Blakely, CRNP, DNP, NP-C
Excellence Award in Leadership
Georgia BrinitStiffler, NP-BC
Excellence Award in Research
Tracey Yap, Phd, RN, WCC, CNE, FGSA, FAAN
GAPNA Foundation Awards
GAPNA Foundation Awards
Dr. Karen Robson, DNP, FNP
“Health Outcomes Associated with Antipsychotic Medication (APM) Use Among Older Adults with Dementia in United States Long Term Care Facilities”
GAPNA Foundation Research Project Grant Award
Dr Malissa Mulkey, PhD, APRN, CCNS, CCRN, CNRN
“Neuroprotection for Delirium from ACE-Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers”
GAPNA Foundation Clinical Project Grant Award
Yvonne Fourte, BSN, MSN
“Conspiracy of Silence and a Good Death: Perceptions of Hospice Registered Nurses”
UnitedHealth Grant
Dr. Laurie Kennedy-Malone, PhD GNP-BC FAANP, FSA
“Perceived Effectiveness of Nursing Faculty of Clinical Video Simulation for Use in Nurse Practitioner Education”
David Butler Spirit of GAPNA Award
Cynthia J. Gerstenlauer, ANP-BC, GNCS-BC, CDE, CCD
Virginia Lee Cora Research Grant
Dr Sharon Stahl Wexler, PhD, MA, BS
“Examining the Feasibility of a Novel Animatronic Pet to Increase Walker Use in a Sample of Community Dwelling Older Adults
AMDA Foundation Futures Educational Grant
Dr Ozioma Erondu, DNP, CRNP, AGNP-C
Poster Awards
1st Place - Examining Loneliness, Sleep and Quality of Life in Elderly Hospitalized Patients Requiring Skilled Care Through the Lens of COVID-19
Hector Castillo, BSN, RN
2nd Place - Implementing American College of Cardiology Recommendations to Improve Cardiovascular Health Using a Client-Centered Approach
Lisa Marie McCusker, DNP, APRN, FNP; Kimberly Couch, DNP, CNM, FNP-BC
3rd Place - NP Awareness of Bi-Directional Depression-Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Older Adults
Lorraine Novosel, PhD, APRN-CNP, AGPCNP-BC
Podium Award
ADLs, IADLs, and Key Activities of Parkinson's Disease Caregivers: A Secondary Analysis
Ju Young Shin, PhD, APRN, ANP-C; Barbara Haberman, PhD, RN, FAAN